Steve Jobs Illustrates Age Discrimination by HR Employment Recruiters In High Tech Unwarranted

Israel News Agency / Google News ^ | October 7, 2011 | Joel Leyden

[IsraelBeach]

Steve Jobs Illustrates Age Discrimination by HR Employment Recruiters In High Tech, Social Media Unwarranted

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Ra'anana, Israel --- October 7, 2011 .... If Steve Jobs answered an ad today for work on LinkedIn.com or Monster.com chances are he would never even get a response.

At the age of 56 he would be deemed a dinosaur who would be completely out of touch with modern technology and integrated marketing channels. That at 56, he would be lucky if he was using email. HR and executive recruiters in high tech, SEO, social media and digital marketing have instructions by most companies not to engage anyone over 45.

Steve Jobs, the man who founded Apple and turned it into the world's must successful high tech, computer company died of pancreatic cancer yesterday. Jobs, with an estimated net worth of $7 billion dollars, was responsible for creating the personal computer industry, teaching people how to use a mouse to click on objects and how to make hardware easy to use. Steve Jobs created the iPod portable music player, the iPhone (telephone, Internet communicator, music player) and the iPad tablet. Consumer products which changed how we use and consume content in the digital age.

In addition to technology, Jobs served as served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios and became a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company.

But yet, if Steve Jobs had not been so lucky in creating some of the first computers out of a garage in Mountain View, California and was simply a hard working, marketing professional who worked for Microsoft or HP and was laid off due to a recession where would he have been in the last few years?

Regardless of how deep his knowledge of software, hardware and marketing may have been - he could have wound up selling shirts at Macy's or frozen food at Walmart. If Jobs had not acquired the personal contacts that he accumulated over the years and simply relied on a resume to secure a hi tech position in 2011, he could have been collecting unemployment.

Many assume that those over 40 or 45 are not in touch with modern technology yet Steve Jobs was one of those middle aged professionals leading modern technology. Many social media, digital PR and SEO employers assume that in order to secure fresh ideas one needs to tap into a market of 20 - 30 year-olds. That those who are over 50 are completely obsolete.

When has youth had a higher value over experience? That those high tech marketing professionals who have made the jump from conventional media to online sales and integrated marketing channels are to be ignored?

One highly respected tech professional recently interviewed for a chief operating officer position with a West Coast technology company. The headhunter was very positive and told him that he was "the leading candidate". The CEO congratulated this 50 years plus professional on his stellar technology background. Then he heard nothing for two weeks. He then called the headhunter, who then told him that the company was seeking "a person with more technical experience." This candidate writes for CNET!

Age discrimination is alive and well. In fact age discrimination is killing high tech.

There's a TV commercial being aired on ESPN right now that illustrates two hiring managers discussing the two job candidates sitting in the lobby. We only see the backs of these candidates' heads. One is dark brown and lustrous and the other brittle and gray. The HR recruiters debate should they go with the experienced candidate though "he won't have energy" or hire the fresh young guy? And then we see that the two candidates are the same person before and after a hair dye job.

More than two-thirds of tech professionals over 45 have said that ageism is a "significant problem" according to a study released a few years ago. That nearly one in three workers over 45 said they have either witnessed or experienced "age bias."

During the next ten years, mature workers will overwhelm the high tech industry by their sheer numbers. According to American Demographics, seven baby boomers will turn 50 every minute in the US from now until 2014.

Steve Jobs at 56 was still creating, producing and marketing new consumer products at the time of his death. Jobs was widely described as a visionary, as a pioneer and perhaps one of the key leaders ever in the field of business, innovation and product design. Many say that Jobs had "profoundly" changed the face of the modern world in having revolutionized at least six different industries and was the finest role model for all chief executives".

Jobs was working smarter, faster and more creative than those half his age. Steve Jobs does not just leave us with an iPhone or graphics that you want to lick, but with the life example that experience and hard work is still alive after 55.

Steve Jobs will be remembered for many things and many quotes but perhaps these words are the most fitting: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

And excellence, like a fine wine, takes time to achieve.

[fso301]

I think much of this age discrimination originates with managers who after a few years and reorganizations have lost whatever technical skills enabled them to become managers in the first place.

Believing themselves to be of superior stock yet aware of their own eroding technical skills, they project their deficiencies onto all older employees.

[fso301]

Actually, I have to disagree about the “heads-down” piece a bit. Focus is, imo, the one ingredient most technical people lack. They are always hedging their bets by learning a little about a lot of different things. Finding, and staying centered on, a few things and acquiring real depth in those areas is uncommon and therefore valuable.

You make a good point but when the technology a person was focused on goes away, what then?

[Wonder Warthog]

"But he personally collected none of the SS as he died at 51. SS taxes paid would have been in his name if done properly with the investment he choose to make."

Are you not eligible for benefits from his SS???

But the system needed to replace SS has already been designed and field-tested.......in Chile, and it works.

[Wonder Warthog]

"A proper retirement system would be something like a 401K or IRA. You would have an ownership interest. You would have control. Your heirs would inherit it, should you be so unlucky as your husband or Steve Jobs. If it did fabulously, you would be comfortable."

I believe this is pretty much how the current Chilean "SS" system is set up.

[central_va]

.”Heads Down” coders get outsourced.

Maybe I am just lucky but I make good money keeping my head down doing java development and I am into my 50's.

[M Kehoe]

BFL.

5.56mm

[DollyCali]

BTTT

Yes & I am 10 years older & work just is NOT there. After being out of the work force for 20 years taking care of my invalid mom, it is a sad scene. It is sad for younger people as well. BUT frankly if I were an employer I would higher someone half my age, not me!

[goat granny]

Hi WW. Yes I am able to collect on my husbands SS. I had a choice to collect from my own SS OR his. Of course he made more money during his working years than I did. I also being a widow was able to start collecting before the age of 65 but had to take a 30% discount for collecting early. I could draw from the IRA early also at age 59 1/2. The rule being I had to collect the same amount every year until the age of 62. (I think that was the age for IRA)

I think S S should be like an IRA and have in the past heard idiots in Washington say "no" to such a SS reform. They said people might make bad decisions and lose their SS because of bad investments. That's political talk for "nope we want to spend that money".

I didn't take pres. drug coverage cause I don't think its right that my grand kids should be paying for my medication. The doctor knows if a medication has no generic, I won't buy it....I have medicare premiums taken out of my SS check every month...Its only 100 dollars but I also pay over 200 dollars a month for the medi-gap 20% medical insurance, so its not expensive, 300 dollars a month but its not free.

I just wish my grand kids could have their own SS in their own name, but Washington likes to spend the money..It must go into the billions a year...FICA is a rip off to all the kids (and adults) that are forced to pay it so Washington can give it away to their friends...It didn't start out that way, but it has become that.

Some people blame the seniors for social security ponzi scheam /sp, the blame belongs in Washington. They are the one's that make the rules..And its easier to blame the seniors cause that takes the heat off of congress for their greed.

They are the real greedy one's in that they rob the citizen's of the fruits of their labor and produce zip, zero, nada....Washington has to have the military, but then send our men to god forsaken places to die for people that hate us, then they bribe the countries with our money again under the excuse that foreign aid is necessary..

Sorry for the rant, that is just the beginning, I could write a book on the crooks but then so could everyone getting screwed by Washington...

[Tax Government]

You make a good point but when the technology a person was focused on goes away, what then?

People need to take seriously the threat that tech change poses, and plan a major career move. How serious is a person about making a change? Doe he/she want an uncommon skill? Then move to China and teach English. (Easy, get TESL cert and someone will probably pay your way. Stay a few years.) Need a college BA or law degree? (Easy; online colleges for both.) In the wrong city? Go where the jobs are; tell spouse to sell house and follow if you land a good one.

If I were not busy, but had a decade to spare and a compliant spouse, I'd probably go to China.